The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is actively investigating the death of a bald eagle that occurred on January 1, 2011 in Smith County, Kansas.

At around 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 1st, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office notified Service agents that a landowner had found a dead bald eagle on the road near the intersection of BB and 20 Roads. According to the landowner, the eagle was alive and flying around only a short time before it was found dead.

Bald eagles are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Killing any eagle is considered a violation of these acts.

Anyone with information regarding the death of this eagle is asked to contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement in Topeka, Kansas, at (785) 232-5149. The Service may pay for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible. Callers with information may remain anonymous.

About 50,000 pairs of bald eagles occupied the lower 48 states in pre-colonial times, but that number was reduced to 400 pairs by the 1960s. Biologists blamed a loss of habitat, shooting, trapping and the heavy use of pesticides such as DDT. After DDT was outlawed, bald eagles began making a comeback in the late 1980s, and the species was down listed from endangered to threatened in 1996, and in June of 2007, it was removed from the list completely.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
- FWS -